Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey rode into the Rotary Club of Chattanooga meeting today in a Volkswagen, then went on to say that he had felt, despite some reports, that Chattanooga was the company’s favored site for its plant the whole time.

Tuesday’s VW announcement dominated the service club’s meeting. The atmosphere was giddy as officials tried out their German and recognized the many players who worked to court the auto manufacturer. The audience stood for applause at many junctures, none louder than when Mr. Ramsey entered an exhibit hall at the Chattanooga Convention Center in a Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

“I never thought we were out of it,” Mr. Ramsey said, referencing reports that Chattanooga would lose out to Huntsville, Ala., for the manufacturing facility, settling for a second-prize engine plant.

“An engine plant has never been mentioned,” he said.

“This community is at a crossroads. We’re on a high right now,” Mr. Ramsey said, going on to say Chattanooga and the region should keep investing in development, and not just at the Enterprise South industrial park.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.